Abstract: A pressurized disc type refiner having parallel discs housed inside a pressurized chamber and a fluid conveying passageway for removing refined fibrous material entrained in steam is equipped with a second fluid conveying passageway. Fins on the one of the rotating discs impede the entrance of refined fibrous material into the second passageway by centrifugal force so that the steam conveyed in that passageway will be substantially free of entrained fibrous material.

Abstract: In a pressurized materials processing system, separation of solid particulates from a gaseous process fluid is beneficially accomplished by use of a swept orifice discharger comprised of a cylindrical housing that is closed at one end and open at the other end. The housing contains an impeller within its interior and has a selected, presized orifice in its cylindrical side wall. In operation, the solid material and gaseous fluid are received in the swept orifice discharger housing and the solid material is continuously centrifugally urged toward the housing side wall so that it separates from the gaseous process fluid and collects on the housing side wall.

Abstract: A storage bin for handling and discharging plug flow material uses shrouds to prevent wedging of plug flow material such as refuse derived fuel between vertical screws and the end walls of the bin. The bin is divided into two separate sections by the vertical screws. Wedging of plug flow material in both bin sections and material discharge is then stopped. The shrouds force the plug flow material into the active surface area of vertical screws and continuous discharge through an elongated discharge aperture is assured. Two horizontal screws are used to further augment material discharge beneath the elongated discharge aperture. The two horizontal screws are parallel and the bottom of vertical screws are between the two horizontal screws.

Abstract: A seal and discharge assembly for use in the processing of farinaceous material is disclosed in which the dry food mix is introduced into a continuous pressure cooker assembly without undue pressure loss and while maintaining a regulated flow of material into the continuous pressure cooker assembly. The seal and discharge assembly comprises an extension of the root of the pressure feeder screw upon which is mounted a compacting ring for plug sealing and flinger paddles for breaking-up the plug seal and positively conveying the farinaceous material making up the plug seal into the continuous pressure cooker assembly. The root extension and the radially mounted flinger paddles are housed in a discharge chamber between a pressure feeder screw barrel and the continuous pressure cooker assembly.

Abstract: A rotary cutting apparatus in which the cutting of thin material is possible without the use of a curved blade. The fly and bed knives are positioned according to the formulaC=R-.sqroot.R.sup.2 -(tangent S.times.L).sup.2where C is bed knife camber, R is cutting radius, S is shear angle and L is rotor length. As a result of this geometry, uniform fly knife to bed knife clearance is maintained across the face of the rotor.